Washing machine



Oct. 11, 1932.

H. HAUBENS -ET AL WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I wuentozs." H.HAUBENS. L. H. HOLCOMB.

Filed Sept. 15, 1930 Fatented st. 11, 1932 stares PATENT OFFICE WASHINGMACHINE Application filed September 15, 1930. Serial N0. 481,911.

Our invention relates to washing machines of the class wherein a tub orcontainer for the cleansing fluid is mounted pivotally upon a iorizontalaxis, about which the container is oscillated to agitate the contents,the container being shaped to effect a transverse surging and swirlingof the cleansing fluid to force the same through and about the articlesimmersed therein for washing. It is the general object of our inventionto provide in a washing machine of this class certain refinements andimproved structures adapting the same for use by commercial laundriesand dry cleaners, for wet washing and dry cleaning, under either batchor continuous-flow modes of operation. Particular objects of ourinvention are to provide, in a washing machine of this class, means forsupplying the cleansing fluid to the tub or container while the same isin motion, and for directing the fresh fluid either to the bottom of thetub or upon the contents thereof from above the same, as may be desired;to provide means whereby the cleansing fluid may be with drawn from thecontainer while the same is in motion, either to completely drain anddischarge the fluid content or to continuously withdraw portions thereofas fresh fluid is supplied; to provide means whereby insoluble orsedementitious particles of material are withdrawn from the main body ofthe cleansing fluid during the washing operation, and retained in aseparate drainable compartment, for intermittent discharge as may bedesired; to provide for the container doors or hinged covers which arenormally held in closed position and which may be opened and held openduring the operation of the washer to enable inspection of the contents;and to so form the oscillating tub as to provide a maximum agitation andrelative movement of the cleansing fluid and articles immersed therein,without liability of splashing or throwing the fluid through the topopenin of the tub when the doors are open. V

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a machineembodying our invention, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectionof the same on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the invention according to the illustrated embodimentthereof, We provide a frame having similar end-members, each comprisinga central annular portion 5, havingintegral leg-portions 6 extending tothe front and rear from the lower part there: of, and having an integralstandard 7 extending from the upper portion thereof and provided at itsupper end with a bearing 8. Said frame end-members are rigidly connectedand held in spaced parallel relation by a semi-cylindrical longitudinalmember 9, extending between the upper parts of the annular portions 5,and having flanged ends bolted thereto. At the centers of the annularportions are bearings 10 for the main longitudinal shaft 11 whichcarries at one end a gear 12. Meshing with said gear is a suitablepinion 13, carried by a drive-shaft 14: having one end journaled in theend frameinember and the other end journaled in a.

bracket 15 attached to the frame, as shown. On the shaft 14 are tightand loose pulleys 16 and 17, adapted to be driven by belt from asuitable source of power, the upper portion of the bracket 15 carrying abelt-shifting device 18 for guiding the belt onto the tight or loosepulley as required. The pinion 13 and gear 12 are inclosedperipherally'by the annular portion of the frame-member, and areshrouded or partially inclosed at the outer side by a guard-plate 19secured to the framemember by screws 20. On the shaft 14, at the endthereof opposite the gear 12 and inclosed by the annular portion of therespective end frame-member, is a disk or crankplate 21. Crank-pins 23,arranged in axially alined relation on said plate 21 and the gear 12,are connected with the lower ends of pitmen 22 which extend upwardtherefrom and have their upper ends connected with the oscillating tub,as hereinafter described, for

actuating the same.

The oscillating tub has substantially flat parallel end-plates 24 and25, flanged outwardly at the edges thereof,which are of similar contour,and said contoured edges of each end-plate are symmetrical to a centralvertical longitudinal plane, asshown. Each side of the tub-body isinclosed by an integral sheet of metal of which the end portions overlapthe flanges of the contoured edges of the end-plates and are securedthereto by suitable rivets. The side-sheets of the tub-body thus conformthroughout their length with the contoured edges of the endplates, andprovide a slightly concave central bottom portion 26, steps 2'7extending upwardly and slightly inclined outwardly from the sides of thebottom portion 26, shelf portions 28 having a slight upward inclinationand extending outwardly from the steps 27, steps 29 inclined inwardlyand extending up from the sides of the shelf portions 22 divergentinclined portions 30 extending upwardly and outwardly from the steps 29,and

.shoulder portions 31 extending upwardly from the upper edges of theportions 30, said shoulder portions 31 curving inwardly and slightlydownward at thelr inner edges. At

said inner edges of the shoulder portions .are longltudmally extendingangle-bars 32 :wlnch form the sides of the top-opening of the tub. Saidtop-opening is rectangular and continuous from one end-plate to theother, except that there is a central transverse .bar 33 lying betweenthe adjoining ends of the cover-plates or doors 35 and 36, which areconnected with the tub-body at the rear side of the top-opening bysuitable hinges 37. The form of the tub-chamber as a whole is thusprisnioid and symmetrical to a vertical longitudinal plane, the lowerportion 24 and 25 centrally thereof. On the end plates, slightly belowand rearward of the trunnions, are axially alined pins or studs to whichare-connected the upper ends of the pitmen 22, whereby during rotationof the main shaft 11 the tub is oscillated about the trunnion-axis, thedriving force being thus imparted equally to both ends of the tub, and

torsional stresses in the tub and frame being avoided.

The tubulartrunnions 33 pro1ect through the bearings 3, and the outerend of each ex the cleansing fluid may be supplied to or withdrawn fromthe tub. in the structure shown, the inner end of the tubular trunnionon the end-plate 25 communicates with a passage 46 formed within saidplate, extending downwardly from the trunnion and opening into the lowerportion of the tub-chamber, the opening being covered by a suitablescreen 47. Formed within the end-plate 24 i is a passage 48communicating with the respective tubular trunnion and extendingupwardly therefrom, as shown. The upper end of said passage 48 normallycommunicates with a perforate tube 49 carried by the door or cover-plate35, said tube 49 having a diagonal end-face which rests against theend-plate to form a joint about the outlet of the passage 48 when thedoor is in normal closed position. Spray-pipes 50 may also be fixedlyconnected with the end-plate 24 to communicate with the passage 48 andextend longitudinally within the upper portion of the tub-chamber, atthe sides of the top-opening thereof. In some cases, as where themachine is to be used exclusively for dry cleaning, it is desirable thatthe fluid-passages from the tubular trunnions be extended to the bottomof the tub at both ends, similarly to the passage 46 of the end-plate25. In other cases, as where the machine is to be used exclusively forwet washing, it is desirable that the fluid-passages from the trunnionsat both ends of the tub be extended to the upper portion of thetub-chamber, to connect with spraying means such as the perforate tube49 or spray-pipes 50.

In the lower portion of the tub is a central longitudinally extendingperforate false bottom plate 51, beneath which is formed a narrowlongitudinally extending chamber 52. The bottom of the chamber 52 isdownwardly inclined from the ends toward the center of the tub, at whichthere is a drain or discharge-opening which is normally closed by ahinged valve-plate 53. A shaft 54 is connected with the valve-plate 53,and extends longitudinally past one end of the tub. At the end of saidshaft 54 is a crank-arm 55 from which a rod 56 is extended upwardly toconnect with a crank-pin 57 on a-crank-plate 58 mounted pivotally on apin 59 on the enclplate'25. The crank-plate 58 has a handle 60 forconvenience in turning the same, and the edge of the plate is notched toreceive a stop-lug 61 for limiting movement of the plate about the pin59. At the position shown in F l, the crank-pin 57 is substantiallyondead-center, or alined with the rod 56 and the pivot-pin 59, and thevalve-plate 53 is retained in closed position. By pulling forwardly uponthe handle 60, to move the crank-plate until the opposite end of .thenotch therein engages the stop-lug 61, the 3125 rod 56 is pulledupwardly and the valve-plate swung to open position. A reverse movementof the handle 60 will close the valve, and

either the opening or-closingmovement may be readily effected while themachine isin 1 Operation and the tub is oscillating about itstrunnion-axis.

Beneath the tub, resting upon and-secured to the longitudinalframe-member 9, is a drain-pan 62 having formed integrally therewith, atthe central rearward portion thereof, a spout 63 extending somewhatabove the rear edge of the pan, and extending down around the rear sideof the frame-member 9. The lower end of said spout 63 is adapted todischarge into a suitable sewer connection the liquid which drips or isdischarged into the pan 6:2, and the extent of the pan is such as toreceive from the tub any liquid drainet or discharged therefrom, eitherwhile the same is in motion or held stationary at any position to whichit may be actuated by the pitmen 22.

Each of the doors 85 and 36 is provided with controlling meansconsisting oi a lug 65 extending over the edge of the adjacent endplate, a link 66 connected pivotally with said lug 65, and a lever 67having said link 66 connected pivotally with an intermediate portionthereof, the rear end of said lever being pivotally connected with a lug68 on the adjacent end-plate, and the front en-ci of the lever having aknob or handle 69 for con venience in grasping the same. When the dooris in normal closed position the members of the controlling device arepositioned as shown in Fig. 1, and the weight of the lever 67 and knob69 tends to hold the door closed. The door is opened by moving the knob69 upwardly to swing the lever to the position indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 1, at which the lever is alined with the link 66, and the upperportion rests against the end or" the lug 65. Movement of thedoor-control-lever is readily efiected during the oscillating movementof the tub, the door-opening movement being made while the upper portionof the tub is moving forwardly, and the closing movement being madewhile the upper portion of the tub is moving rearwardly. The controldevices serve to retain the doors in either open or closed positionduring the oscillating movements of the tub about its trunnion-axis.

In the operation of the machine, the tub is normally filled with thedesired cleansing fluid to a level slightly below the trunnionaxis.During the oscillating motion of the tub about said axis, the fluid iscaused to surge from side to side, the articles to be washed beingsubmerged in the cleansing fluid and, because of the stepped formationof the bottom portion of the tub, being restrained from moving freelywith the fluid, so that the latter is caused to flow through and aboutupper portion of the tub-body, and directed inwardly and downwardly, soas to descend forcibly upon the articles in the lower portion of thetub-chamber. The reentrant curvature ofthe shoulder portions, bydirecting the fluid downwardly, enables the doors to be opened forinspection of the work while the tub is in motion, without liability ofthe fluid being thrown or splashed out through the open top of the tub.

Ordinarily, the cleansing fluid is supplied from the pipe 44, throughthe passage 48, tube 49 and pipes 50, being thereby sprayed onto theload or contents of the tub. For ordinary laundry purposes in whichwater is employed for the washing, the spraying of the water onto thedry articles, after the same are placed in the tub and while the tub isin motion, causes a rapid breakdown or initial wetting of the articles;and after the initial washing operations are completed the rinsing ofthe load is greatly facilitated by the spraying of the rinse-waterthereon while the load is agitated by the motion of the tub. F or batchoperation, the supply of water is stopped after the tub has been filledto the desired level, and after the de sired period of agitation hedrain-valve 53 is opened, allowing the water to be discharged into thedrain-pan 62 and spout 63, without stopping the oscillating motion ofthe tub. After the water has been drained from the tub, the valve 53 isclosed, the tub again filled, with the desired solution for the nextwashing operation, agitation continned for the desired time, the liquiddrained off as before, the re-filling, agitation, and draining beingrepeated as often as may be necessary to effect the washing and rinsingof the load, and the motion of the tub need not be stopped until theinsed and drained load is ready for removal from the tub. During thewashing operations, insoluble and sedimentitious material tends to passthrough the perforate bottom-plate 51 into the chamber 52, and to beretained therein until released by opening of the drain-valve 53, sothat the greater portion of such materials are removed from the activeliquid in the main body of the tub, instead of being retained thereinuntil the final draining and rinsing operations.

For continuous-flow operation, portions of the liquid may be constantlywithdrawn from the tub through the pipe 45, from the passage 46,throughthe screen 47 at the opening to said passage, and the drain-valve53 opened intermittently and for a sufiicient time only to effect thedischarge of sediment from the chamber 52.

Now, having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: p

1. In a washing machine, a tub-body having vertical end-plates andshaped to inclose a prismoid chamber symmetrical to a m. .Lau

vertical longitudinal plane, trunnions affixed to said end-plates andalined axially in said plane of symmetry intermediate the upper andlower portions of the tub-body, a frame having bearings supporting saidtrunnions, means for oscillating the tub-body about the trunnion-axis,the oscillating tub-body hav ing at the bottom thereof a longitudinallyextending sedimen -chamber, a perforate plate covering saidsediment-chamber and affording communication with the main tubchamberthroughout the length thereof, said sediment-chamber having adrain-opening, a valve controlling said dr in-opening, and anactuating-member connected with said valve and mounted upon an end-plateof the tub-body adjacent to the trunnion-axis and movable in the planeof oscillation to open and close the valve.

2. A washing machine comprising a tubbody inclosing a prismoid chambershaped symmetrically to a vertical longitudinal plane and havingvertical end-plates, tubular trunnions affixed to said end-plates andalined in said plane of symmetry, a frame having bearings supportingsaid trunnions, means for oscillating the tub-body about thetrunnion-axis, pipes carried by the frame and connected with the outerends of the tubular trunnions, the end-plates of the tub-body havingpassages therein communicating with the passages through said trun nionsand connecting the same with the tubchamber, liquid-spraying meansarranged in the upper portion of the tub-chamber and connected with thepassage through the endplatefrom one of the tubular trunnions, thebottom of the tub-body having a drain-opening t i rein, and a valvecontrolling said drain-opening.

3. A washing machine comprising a tub body inclosing a prismoid chambershaped symmetrically to a vertical longitudinal plane and havingvertical end-plates, tubular trunnions affixed to said end-plates andalined axially in said plane of symmetry, a frame having bearingssupporting said trunnions, means for oscillating the tub-body about thetrunnion-axis, pipes carried by the frame and connected with the outerends of the tubular trunnions, the end-plates of the tub-body havingpassages therein communieating with the passages through said trunnionsand connecting the same with the tubchamber, the passage through one ofthe endplatesentending to the lower portion of the tub-chamber wherebyliquid may be withdrawn therefrom through said passage and therespective trunnion simultaneously with the supplying of liquid to thetub-chamber through the other trunnion.

4. In a washing machine, a tub-body having vertical end-plates andshaped to inclose a prismoid'chamber symmetrical to a verticallongitudinal plane, trunnions affixed to said end-plates and alinedaxially in said plane of symmetry intermediate the top and body of thetub-body, a frame having bearings supporting said trunnions, means foroscillating the tub-body about the trunnion-axis, the tub-body having adrain-opening in the bottom thereof, a valve controlling saiddrain-opening, and an actuating member connected with said valve andmounted upon an end-plate of the tub-body adjacent to the trunnion-axis,said valve-actuating member being movable relative to said end-plate ina plane parallel therewith to open and close the valve during theoscillating motion of the tub-body.

5. A washin machine comprising a tubbody inclcsing a prismoid chambershaped symmetrically to a vertical longitudinal plane and havingvertical end-plates, tubular runnions afiixed to said end-plates andalined axially in said plane of symmetry, a frame having bearingssupporting said trunnions, means for oscillating the tub-body about thetrunnion-axis, pipes carried by the frame and connected with the outerends of door being in communication with the passage through anadjoining end-plate to receive liquid therefrom.

HENRY HAUBENS. LAMBERT H. HOLCOMB.

